Six Variations on “Ay Waukin O”

Gibb, Margery

About the work

This eight-bar Scottish folk song set for recorder quartet contains two four-bar phrases. At bar 12 (con sentimento) and at bar 42 (piangendo e legato) the two parts of the orignial eight bar theme appear respectively. Throughout the variations the two parts of the theme are always handled spearately.

Technical notes

The first variation is in dotted rhythm, while the second variation explores the use of staccato quavers and semiquavers, leading to a slower third variation with treble recorder solo. A contrasting fourth variation is fast, and a chromatic section then links into a martial-style fifth variation. A bell-like theme dominates the sixth and final variation, cast in the form of a slow canon.

Origin

donated to CoMA Library at the Summer School 2003